One piece of the puzzle

When Su Kang, a rising senior at Hillwood High School in the Academy of Business and Hospitality, started her summer internship this year through the National Career Advancement Center, she had a preconceived notion of what working in Mayor Karl Dean’s Office would be like.

“As a senior in high school, I finally get to be at the ‘top of the food chain’ in school,” Kang said. “A senior usually feels a sense of happiness, superiority, and mental prowess. But, being in this office and being surrounded by people who have such great experience and intellect intimidated me as well as gave me a wake up call. I had such a naive mindset. But, since I know better now, I can work harder to do some good in my community.”

Kang spent the majority of her summer interning in the Mayor’s Office where she learned about all of the initiative going on in Nashville including areas such as transportation, entertainment, health and wellness and much more. One of her major projects was the Mayor’s Neighborhood Challenge. Kang organized application information, invited neighborhoods via email and phone, and editing the final website for the event.

“I learned that all the small things add up in the big picture from working on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Challenge,” Kang said. “Even though the task might seem small, it is still something that needs to be done and done correctly and efficiently.”

Kang was able to gain this experience through the Summer Youth Internship Program through the Nashville Career Advancement Center. The internship program is a short-term learning and employment opportunity for Nashville Davidson County youth. Participants are assignment to work at a Metro department for twenty hours a week for four weeks. In addition, all participants receive opportunities for skill building and training.